Abstract

A single-step process to prepare epitaxialnanocomposite La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/La2O3thin films formed by spontaneous phase separation using a chemical solution deposition is presented. High magnetic field and temperature dependences of magnetic, transport, and magneto-transport properties of the films were investigated. The relationship between the enhanced magnetoresistance and microstructure and chemical inhomogeneities of the films are discussed.

Received 21 November 2011Accepted 13 December 2011Published online 09 January 2012

Acknowledgments:

We acknowledge the financial support from MEC (CONSOLIDER NANOSELECT, Grant No. MAT2008-01022; FPU), Generalitat de Catalunya (Pla de Recerca, Grant No. 2009-SGR-770, and XaRMAE). The Cs-corrected Tecnai-F20 FEI electron microscope was used in the framework of the European project ESTEEM (Contract No. 026019).